The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-08
PORTLAND & ROCHESTER.
Annual Meeting of the Stockholders.

The annual meeting Of the stockholders Of
the Portland Il Rochester railroad was held
at the office Of President Wescott on Plum
street yesterday morning, Mr.. Wescott pre-
siding.
DIRECTORS REPORT.
i President Wescott, for the directors, re-
ported for the year ending Sept. Goth that
compared with last year both gross earnings
and operating expenses have somewhat in
creased while net earnings show substantial
gain. The terminal facilities occupied for
freight aud passenger purposes, extend from
Chestnut to Green street, about 1900 feet
long, by seventy feet wide, between these
points the tracks cross at grade nine public
streets. The annual cost to maintain these
crossings is quite large and the liability to
serious accidents is greatly enhanced each
year with increased travel For long time
it has been evident that greater economy in
handling cars would result il better located
and more extensive depot grounds could be
had. Recently there has been purchased
lot of flats in Back Cove, suitable for this
purpose and situated between the present
location and the channel. That part pur-
chased, laying between the Marginal Way
and Somerset street contains over eighteen
acres, while outside of the Marginal Way
there is ample room for wharves to be built
fronting the ship channel now being dredged
in Back Cove by the United States govern
ment. The city Of Portland has recently
entered into contract for the construction Of
the Marginal Way, between Green street
and Pearl street, and when completed will
enable this corporation to begin the improve
ment OF this property. and provide itself
with ample facilities for all its traffic by
land and by water. In addition to the fore
going, several lots of land intended for future
improvement, have been purchased in Port
land and Gorham. while at Alfred has been
purchased granite quarry, containing
superior quality OF stone for use in bridge
-Al. - l..
worked ond is located at point convenient
for shipment. The cost Of the foregoing has
been charged to land account.
The equipment of your road has been in
creased by the purchase OF two passenger
cars, one combination passenger and baggage
car. six box lhay) cars and ten fiat cars. Ex-
tensive repairs have been made TO engines,
passenger and freight cars; no new rails
have been required this year; substantial
improvements have been made to the road
10 miles of track have been ballasted, and
S,577 kegs of spikes used The track was
lifted nearly two feet and a siding 1902 feet
long laid. There were 800 feet Of side track
laid at Saccarappa, 1902 at Gorham, 275 at
Saco river, 600 at Alfred, 77S at Springvale,
and $50 at Rochester. A 5000 two span
new bridge, $50 feet long has been substituted
for the pile bridge at Shaker Pond: S2i00 Of
the cost has been charged to operating ex-
penses and the rest will be charged in next
years expenses. Repairs and renewals have
been made at Hamilton Meadow, Goodwin
Brook. Saco River, Lebanon and Butler Mea-
dow. The overhead bridge at Pitt street,
Deering, has been completed. A set Of
Flagg's railway gates has been set up at
Green street crossing, five miles of new fence
have been built, a freight house and box
sewer and turn table built at Saccarappa, O
lot of one and three-fourths acres bought at
GOrham and passenger station erected, and
minor improvements made at Buxton, Alfred,
Springyale and East Rochester, No acci-
dent has occurred to train or passenger.
The number of miles run by trains was
192,361 against 74S in 1886. There were
81, S69 tons of local, 1884 foreign, or 116,763
53,059 foreign, a total Of 115,69S tons for
1856. There were 2l4,112 passengers carried
in 1887, against 206,978 in 1886. The material
on hand amounts to S17,796.97.